Highlights from Year1’s computer science trip, lots of collaboration as they build their robots using Lego WeDo2. Planning & testing their bee bots , using the blue bots and the challenges on the app, having fun programming fish on 2code, designing own Beebot cover & our very own obstacle course.

It was great to see over forty schools attending our end of year Computer Subject leader day. The focus for the day was looking at how we have revamped our Computing long term overview and developed a clearer progression path to support the teaching of computing throughout school. The delegates particularly liked how we have developed the teaching of online safety using Education for a Connected World, Today’s children and young people are growing up in a digital world. As they grow older, it is crucial that they learn to balance the benefits offered by technology with a critical awareness of their own and other’s online behaviour, and develop effective strategies for staying safe and making a positive contribution online.

The afternoon session was the launch of our STEM project loan boxes – these STEM boxes are full of resources, which will enable staff to deliver quality STEM lessons across school.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been working closely with all the KS1 and KS2 classes at Gilnow.

This was the first time that the year1s had used 2Code – Fun with Fish and Bubbles activities in PurpleMash. They were also recapping directional language as well as learning new tricky words such as algorithm, programming and debugging.
Year2s were also focusing on their computer science skills, again using 2Code – Guard the Castle activity in PurpleMash. It was great to see the children independently logging on and straight into their learning. Together we recapped CS tricky words and towards the end of the lessons, the majority of children were trying the Gold and Silver Coding Challenge cards.
Year3 wanted to focus on the children’s online profile; we discussed possible nicknames and designed their own avatar. Mrs. Lyons also read her current favorite book – Troll Stinks by Jeanne Willis & Tony Ross – this book tells the story of two Billy goats that decided to play a trick on a troll. Because all trolls are horrible … aren’t they?
Their second session focused on developing their computer science skills, again using 2Code – Guard the Castle activity in PurpleMash.
Year4 also wanted to look at their online relationship & communications. There was lots of discussions around ‘friends online’ and are these real friends. Lots of the class agreed that they do share lots of their photos and have lots of friends online – following this lesson many agreed to look at deleting some of the ‘friends’ they really didn’t know. The second session was looking at their most popular vloggers – YouTubers – parents it might be worth a look, as when we looked some are questionable.
Year5 focus was to start using blogs to develop their writing skills and write for a wider audience
Year6 started their computing session doing some unplugged activities – Crazy Algorithm Character they soon found out how important clear and precise instructions are needed to give a particular outcome. They then used Scratch2 to code their own knock knock jokes. Many of the children were planning to download this free resource especially as they will be using this at their new secondary school.

Panic, the school minibus has broken down; school may have to cancel the yaer6 trip! Without further ado, we packed our equipment in our cars and off we set off to school. Masefield had a full STEM day planned using Micro:Bit and InOBots neither of which they had used before.

Throughout the day, the children were set a range of computing challenges using both devices, they particularly enjoyed the Micro:Bit as were pleased to know that they would be using these at their secondary school. Below you can see highlights of the day.

STEM is the acronym used in England for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We need to teach skills that will prepare our children for the future – occupations in STEM-related careers are some of the fastest growing and best paid of the 21st century, and they often have the greatest potential for job growth. STEM skills are important across different career paths and other aspects of life. STEM-related knowledge and skills are necessary across nearly all areas of employment and are crucial in many sectors.

SICT launch our STEM project loan boxes – All our STEM boxes come fully loaded with all the resources you need to teach a 4 week block on STEM in school. The boxes include; lesson plans, classroom resources, “How to…” guides and all the technology you need to get started.

Each box is loaned to school for 4 weeks with a Schools ICT curriculum consultant come in for a morning workshop to model teach, support staff in getting up to speed and ensuring the technology is working as it should in school.

Each year Bolton SICT run an Online Safety Competition for all our schools, once again we had a fabulous response from all the schools that entered – just glad the curriculum team are not on the judging panel 🙂

Well done to our Online Safety Competition Winners

Programming category – Beaumont Primary School

Media category– The Valley Primary School

Art & DT category – Sunning Hill Primary School – their art work can be seen on our displays in our training rooms, as well as some of the other schools.